The famine officially declared in Gaza on Friday "is not a natural disaster, but the result of choices," according to Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot.
In a post on the social media platform X, Prévot called it "shameful" that "in the 21st century, children are dying of hunger because aid is being blocked."
The United Nations formally declared a famine in Gaza, noting that conditions in the territory had degraded to the point where acute food insecurity has reached catastrophic levels, according to the global food security watchdog IPC. The famine affects the region of Gaza Governorate, including Gaza City.
The UN had already issued multiple warnings of impending famine over the past months.
Prévot stressed that this confirmation is "no surprise" and labelled the situation "the tragic outcome of what has been obvious for months: an entire population is being driven towards starvation, destitution, and death."
Deputy-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prevot pictured during a visit to the Ura Refugee Site in Assosa, Ethiopia on Friday 22 August 2025. Credit: Belga / Benoit Doppagne
Without mentioning Israel explicitly, Prévot added: "Over half a million people are already living in disastrous conditions, and the outlook for the coming weeks will only worsen."
Belgium, he said, must continue efforts to promote a humanitarian solution. While recent air-drops of aid, supported in part by the Belgian military, have been helpful, they are not enough to address the scale of the crisis.
"Only full, unrestricted, and independent humanitarian access by land and sea can avert further tragedy," Prévot insisted.
The minister also underscored the importance of ensuring that aid reaches those in greatest need. "We call on all actors on the ground to ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered directly to the civilian population," he said.
